Learn to sail (5 days) with 2024 BCYC Club Membership

RYA Start Sailing & Sailing Basics RYA level 1&2

Five days - Last weekend April and then three day May bank holiday

Combined RYA Start Sailing and Sailing Basics (level 1 & 2) Dinghy Course for Adult (aged 16 or over) novices or as a refresher for those returning to dinghy sailing.

The course is for people wanting to join BCYC, with a training discount included in the price.

Note : - 2024 Dates are SAT April 27TH, Sun April 28th, then following three day Bank Holiday weekend

The course follows the RYA start sailing / sailing basics syllabus and aims at developing confidence and competence of the participants to sail without any instruction.

The RYA Bit

The RYA Recognised training center for this course is Bristol Corinthian Yacht Club - Principal Instructor Johnny Allen, and the course is held on Cheddar Reservoir - Somerset. The minimum duration to complete the course is 32 Hours and the maximum student to instructor ratio we are allowed is 1:6

You will be provided with an RYA Syllabus / Logbook as part of your course fee, and the RYA start sailing book will be available for an additional £10 if requested.

What Do I Need to Go Sailing?

The course provides all equipment that you will need, wetsuits, buoyancy aid and spray jacket.

You will need to provide shoes that can get wet (training shoes or pumps will do) and a towel. The club has lockable changing rooms and hot showers. Teas and coffees and be purchased at the club along with Hot Food.

The course runs from 09:30 to 17:00 each day.

How Much Will it Cost?

The five day course costs £550 and includes BCYC membership up to renewal on 1st March 2025. The course is an ideal way of staring at BCYC meeting fellow new members and making friends.

Membership allows the hiring of club boats and requires commitment to support the club for a number of "corinthian " days throughout the year.

There is a deposit of £20 for a gate key included in the course fee and your membership can be upgraded to a family membership for the additional membership fee.

Please note: - if two family members are coming on the course, please contact principal@bcyc.org.uk to arrange for the additional participant to be added manually to the course and an additional payment of £350 to be requested

In addition if you would like to purchase an RYA start sailing manual - these can be purchased for 10 pounds at the start of the course.

If you wish to come on the course but do not want to join BCYC the fee remains at £550 - Still an absolute bargain - please let the club know at point of being requested to join the club - prior to the course starting.

Single Handed Or Double Handed Boats?

The course takes place using club training boats that can be hired by members once Sailing Basics (level 2) certification has been awarded.

The course takes place in Vision (below) and Wayfarer boats with an instructor in the boat at all times for the first few sessions. The boats are more stable and suitable for a wider range of student ages and physical ability. There is the option to switch to single handed boats once the start sailing part of the course is completed - and if the weather allows. Progression is much quicker in a single handed boat, and candidates tend to be more athletic, get wetter and make a lot more noise.

The sailing basics(level 2) course involves rigging, maneuvering, launching and capsizing a boat and students need to have sufficient mobility for these activities. As a guide , the ability to get out of a swimming pool without using a ladder would be considered comparable with the most extreme requirements for the course.

Having said that - being able to swim is not a requirement to go sailing, but confidence in and around the water is required. All equipment - buoyancy aids (compulsory) and wetsuit (optional) are provided. All you need to bring are shoes that can get wet..

The club has a Galley and hot food can be ordered. There are tea and coffee making facilities and a microwave that cn be used by members